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The first direct train service for 60 years to run between Newport and Ebbw Vale is to be given its official launch today, marking the end of a multimillion pound project.

Thirty trains a day will now run on the Ebbw Valley railway line to Newport, which serves the stations for Newbridge, Crosskeys, and Risca and Pontymister.

The direct service had been due to begin last month, but storms in November had damaged the wheels of several trains.

The line, which reopened to passengers in 2008 after being closed for more than 40 years, will have two trains per hour – one to Cardiff and one to Newport – a total of 60 trains a day.

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council received a £70 million interest-free loan from the Welsh Government to carry out infrastructure improvements in its area alongside work by Network Rail and service operator Transport for Wales.

Lee Waters, Deputy Climate Change Minister, with a responsibility for transport, said: “I’m so pleased the service between Ebbw Vale and Newport is finally in place. It has taken a long time and required a lot of investment but the doubling of the frequency of trains will make a difference to all the communities along the route. This would not have happened without the Welsh Government stepping in with investment.

“At a time when we are used to big infrastructure projects going over time and over budget we should applaud the fact this complicated project has been on time and within budget. My huge thanks to Blaenau Gwent Council, Network Rail and Transport for Wales for working together to pull this off.

“People will now be able to travel direct to Newport or Cardiff every hour, on new track and in new trains.”

Around 1.2km of track upgrades was carried out by Network Rail engineers at nine different locations between Crosskeys and Crumlin. According to Network Rail, this will allow for the completion of a seven-mile loop enabling trains to pass.

A new platform was also installed at Newbridge.

TfW will start running new trains on the line from spring.